Hello from Virginia!

Hi all! I've been here before, lurking in the Rocket Stove forum and thought it was time to sign up (I have questions).

Looks like there are a few other forums that will catch my interest too. I plan to build a house of some combination of timber frame, cob, strawbale, etc.

Thanks for all the information you people provide!

Bob

Bob Jackson wrote:Hi all! I've been here before, lurking in the Rocket Stove forum and thought it was time to sign up (I have questions).

Looks like there are a few other forums that will catch my interest too. I plan to build a house of some combination of timber frame, cob, strawbale, etc.

Thanks for all the information you people provide!

Bob

What part of VA are trying to do this homestead? I'm right out side of DC and need to find locations to research around here!

Hi Bob & Louie!

Welcome Bob. I just joined myself. I am sure there are plenty of people exploring natural building options and/or already actually building naturally in Virginia, WV, southern Maryland, northern NC, etc., but finding them does not seem to be as easy as it would be if we were in California, Oregon, or New Mexico, right?

Bob and Louie, where are you located? I am in The Plains, Virginia--going east/west, it is about halfway between Manassas and Front Royal, off Rt. 66, about an hour west of DC. (Going north/south, it's between Middleburg and Warrenton, west of Rt. 15 and east of Rt. 17)---maybe an hour or more northwest of Fredericksburg.

Louie, to answer your question to me from the other thread, I am in no rush, since I cannot build alone and since I have not yet found or hired any builders. In fact, I was about to forget the whole thing, but now I am getting inspired again, especially after finding this great blog--the most helpful and informative resource I have found, by far, written by Sigi Koko, who lives and works in the PA/Washington DC/Baltimore MD region:

Build Naturally Blog:

http://buildnaturally.blogspot.com/


Right now, any help at any time would be completely welcome and appreciated. Next summer would be perfect to try to build something here. Maybe we could experiment with an oven, or some walls, or a shed, or gazebo, or a room off another structure, such as the wooden garage/run-in shed I hope to have put up soon. (I already have all the old wood for it that was dismantled from a run-in shed on another property).

Since I have so many rocks and stones, I am interested in maybe finding a way to combine bale, cob, and stonework, with maybe wood frame also, as Bob was saying.

Bob: If and when you build something, I would love to know about it--and maybe come see it. (I don't mind traveling--I'd combine it with a trip to that area.)

I'll likely be looking to hire people, at some point, who can do the building and who know about this stuff. Let me know if you come across anyone in our area who would be interested.

Thanks!

Heidi

Heidi Raebeck-Heider wrote:Hi Bob & Louie!

Welcome Bob. I just joined myself. I am sure there are plenty of people exploring natural building options and/or already actually building naturally in Virginia, WV, southern Maryland, northern NC, etc., but finding them does not seem to be as easy as it would be if we were in California, Oregon, or New Mexico, right?

Bob and Louie, where are you located? I am in The Plains, Virginia--going east/west, it is about halfway between Manassas and Front Royal, off Rt. 66, about an hour west of DC. (Going north/south, it's between Middleburg and Warrenton, west of Rt. 15 and east of Rt. 17)---maybe an hour or more northwest of Fredericksburg.

Louie, to answer your question to me from the other thread, I am in no rush, since I cannot build alone and since I have not yet found or hired any builders. In fact, I was about to forget the whole thing, but now I am getting inspired again, especially after finding this great blog--the most helpful and informative resource I have found, by far, written by Sigi Koko, who lives and works in the PA/Washington DC/Baltimore MD region:

Build Naturally Blog:

http://buildnaturally.blogspot.com/


Right now, any help at any time would be completely welcome and appreciated. Next summer would be perfect to try to build something here. Maybe we could experiment with an oven, or some walls, or a shed, or gazebo, or a room off another structure, such as the wooden garage/run-in shed I hope to have put up soon. (I already have all the old wood for it that was dismantled from a run-in shed on another property).

Since I have so many rocks and stones, I am interested in maybe finding a way to combine bale, cob, and stonework, with maybe wood frame also, as Bob was saying.

Bob: If and when you build something, I would love to know about it--and maybe come see it. (I don't mind traveling--I'd combine it with a trip to that area.)

I'll likely be looking to hire people, at some point, who can do the building and who know about this stuff. Let me know if you come across anyone in our area who would be interested.

Thanks!

Heidi

Heidi-
I'm at 66 and 495, about 45min- hour I think...what kind of farming do you have in mind? Any green houses involved or aquaculture? How much land arebyou working with? Does your county allow raising pigs or chickens?

Heidi-
I'm at 66 and 495, about 45min- hour I think...what kind of farming do you have in mind? Any green houses involved or aquaculture? How much land arebyou working with? Does your county allow raising pigs or chickens?


Hi Louie:

The Plains is only about 30 min from the Beltway and 66, then I am another 10 minutes from the village. This is Fauquier County and I am not sure but I THINK it is pretty loose here about having animals . . . I am surrounded by protected land and horse farms on all sides. My neighbor has chickens. I love animals and would love to have some free-roaming chickens or guinea hens, but there would be a challenge with the foxes. I adore goats and pigs but there may not be enough space for them here.

~~Heidi

Hi Heidi,
I'm from NYC too and I think we knew each other back in the day. I live in San Diego now. (ex-circus)
Coco

Coco: I just came across this post--I never saw it two years ago. Are you still here? Great to hear from you. I was just thinking about you the other day!   ~~Heidi